The soya plant is an oilseed and an important food plant in Asia. Soybeans account for the main share of legume production. It is a resilient, flexible crop with local varieties and different maturity groups. Soybeans are processed for their oil (edible uses but also biodiesel production or industrial uses) and meal (for the animal feed industry). A smaller percentage is processed for human consumption (including soy milk, soy flour, soy protein, tofu). Soybeans are also used in many non-food (industrial) products.
